University of Bridgeport’s department of Athletics is proud to announce the selection of three exceptional Purple Knights for induction into UB’s Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. The Class of 2025 is comprised of Annagrazia Bonsanti (Swimming, ’18), Gabrielle Valela (Women’s Lacrosse, ’15), and Sidney Parsons (Women’s Basketball, ’10).
The 2025 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place during Homecoming Weekend at the Knights Fest Gala (Oct. 4).
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome the Hall of Fame Class of 2025,” said UB’s director of athletics, Anthony Vitti. “These individuals have left their mark on the University of Bridgeport’s athletic program, not just through their accomplishments in competition, but through their leadership, character, and unwavering commitment to excellence. They represent the very best of what it means to be a Purple Knight, and we are proud to celebrate their contributions by honoring them as the newest members of the UB Athletics Hall of Fame.”
Annagrazia Bonsanti Feniello ’18, Swimming
Hailing all the way from Caracas, Venezuela, Bonsanti is easily one of the most decorated athletes to ever don the Purple and White. An eight-time NCAA All-American, Bonsanti won a remarkable nine Metropolitan Conference championships during her career that spanned from 2015-2018.
Bonsanti was truly dominant in conference action as she won four consecutive metro championships in the 500-free by a combined 25 seconds. She also captured three titles in the 1650 and one each in the 200-meter and the 400 IM. Bonsanti was selected as the conference’s Rookie of the Year in 2015.
The NCAA Championships was also a place where Bonsanti shined. The two-time preseason All-American finished in the top-11 at NCAAs an incredible 11 times which included five top-five finishes and a runner-up performance in the 1650 as a freshman.
Bonsanti’s excellence in the pool was matched with brilliance in the classroom. The Venezuelan was a two-time CSCAA Scholar All-American, in addition to being selected as a CoSIDA Academic All-American as a senior. Bonsanti finished her career with a cumulative GPA of 3.93.
Gabrielle Valela ’15, Women’s Lacrosse
Still sitting as the Purple Knights’ all-time leading scorer, Valela is considered one of the foundationally significant members of a UB women’s lacrosse program that started play in 2011. Valela came to UB just a year later, and when all was said and done in 2015, she racked up a program record 166 career goals which is 15 more than any other player in school history.
Valela also finished her tenure with 27 assists, which puts her in a tie for second on UB’s all-time points list (193). Additionally, she piled up 99 career ground balls and 54 caused turnovers—both of which are top-five marks in the Bridgeport record books.
Team success also served as a momentous part of Valela’s career. During her senior season, which was just the fifth for UB as a varsity program, the Purple Knights won a program record 12 games compared to just four losses. Valela scored seven times during a win over Pace that year which propelled UB to a 6-0 record. She was later named to the ECC’s All-Conference First Team after leading the league with 50 goals.
Valela was also an ECC Second Team selection as a junior after pouring in 44 tallies and posting career-best marks in both ground balls (31) and caused turnovers (15). She led the Purple Knights in scoring during each of her final three seasons at Bridgeport.
Sidney Parsons ’10, Women’s Basketball
Starting all 115 games during her sensational UB career that ranged from 2006-2010, Parsons is best known for her incredible toughness, consistency, and unwavering determination.
Parsons did a little bit of everything during her time at Bridgeport, finishing with more than 1,000 career points and averaging over 3.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. She played a massive role in the Purple Knights making the 2010 NCAA Tournament—their first appearance in the “Big Dance” since 2005.
Parsons’ impeccable streak of starting every game at Bridgeport was just as impressive as her perfect 4.0 GPA that secured her as the Valedictorian of UB’s Class of 2010. She was a three-time honoree on CoSIDA’s Academic All-District Team while also being selected as the ECC’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2009.
Following her time at UB, Parsons has embarked on an incredibly successful coaching career. Earlier this year, she was named the Director of Player Development for the WNBA’s newest franchise, the Golden State Valkyries. Prior to that, Parsons served as the lead assistant coach for the German Women’s National Team for nearly six years while also serving as the head coach of TSV Wasserburg/TK Hannover of the German DBBL.
UB’s Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be the 26th class in Purple Knights’ history, dating all the way back to 1981-1982.
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